Electric welding machine



Match 23, 1948. I WATKIN 2,438,262

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Imam a:

March 23, 1948. H. G. WATKIN ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1945 shgets-sheet 2 5 //a H 65, a2

March 23, 1948. wATKlN 2,438,262

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet a 1 nuentor IdG. h/aikin, y

:1 Horney Marh 23, 1948. H. e. WATKIN ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 21, 1945 Patented Mar. 23, 1948 2,438,262 ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Harold Gladstone Watkin, Liverpool, England Application February 21, 1945, Serial No. 579,081 In Great Britain February 16, 1944 3 Claims. 1

This invention is for improvements in or relating to electric welding machines and particularly welding machines of the kind comprising at least two electrodes, operating means for bringing said electrodes towards one another and onto the work pieces to be welded, and a switch mechanism controlling the flow of welding current and operated by said operating member in synchronism with the movement of the electrodes.

The improvements, according to the present invention, are particularly applicable to the welding machine forming the subject-matter of my Patent No. 2,130,657.

It is most important in a welding machine designed to carry out delicate welding operations that the current should only flow for a very short period of time and the length of such period must be under accurate control. If the current flow is maintained for more than the maximum permissible time, then the work being welded will be burnt to a damaging extent. At the same time it is desirable that the operator the machine should be able accurately and easily to adjust the time of current flow so as to suit the particular job in hand.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved time switch mechanism for welding machines of the character above set forth, by which the time of flow of current can be accurately predetermined and accurately and easily adjusted when required.

According to the present invention there is provided an electric welding machine of the kind specified, wherein the switch mechanism comprises .a timing switch for controlling the duration of time of flow of the welding current, timing switch closing means having a path of engagement with said timing switch for the closing thereof, means operatively connecting the switch mechanism to the machine operating member so as to cause relative movement between the timing switch and its closing means over the path of engagement thereof each time said member is operated, and means for effecting relative ad justment between the timing switch and its closing member so as to vary the length of said path of engagement and thereby the duration of time of flow of the welding current.

According to a further feature of the present invention there is provided a welding machine of the kind specified, wherein the switch mechanism comprises a timing switch for controlling the duration of time of flow of the welding current, a cam for closing said timing switch, means rent flows, the said cam operatively connecting said cam to the machine operating member to effect movement thereof each time said member is operated, and means for adjusting the effective switch closing movement of the cam relatively to the timing switch to vary the length of time said switch is closed by the cam.

According to a still further feature of the present invention there is provided a welding machine of the kind specified and having a timing switch for the welding current comprising a spring-controlled cam shaft, an arm on said cam shaft, a pawl on a part of the machine-operating member adapted to move forward with said part when the machine is operated and to engage said arm and carry it and the cam shaft with it against the control spring thereof and subsequently release said arm and permit return movement of the cam shaft under the action of its spring, a cam on said cam shaft, resilient contact means adapted to be closed by the cam on return movement of the cam shaft and means for adjusting the point of engagement of said resilient contact means with the cam so as to vary the length of time the cam closes said contact means.

According to a still further feature of the present invention there is provided a welding machine of the kind specified and having a switch mechanism comprising in series a cam-operated timing switch, a primary switch and a cut-off switch and means for adjusting the effective stroke of the cam operating the timing switch so as to vary the length of time the welding curbeing spring-operated and the machine-operating member stressing said spring and then releasing the cam for an operating stroke under the action of its spring, wherein the cam moves simultaneously, during stressing of said spring, with means which close the cut-off switch, then open the timing switch and finally close the primary switch.

Preferably the cut-off switch is made to have a very limited space "break because it is found that with alternating current a small break eliminates or reduces any tendency for an arc to form between the contacts and maintain the current flow beyond the desired period. Means are provided for adjusting th break of the cut-off switch to compensate for wear,

The invention will be further described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, as applied to a portable welding machine particularly suitable for carrying out delicate welding oper- 3 4 ations such as are met with in dental work. On form of a block to and a moving contact stud the drawingsl! attached to an insulated arm 48 of a bell- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, crank lever pivoted to the switch-operating block Figure 1a is a view of the foot pedal operator, 34 at 48a under the control of a spring 49. The Figure 2 is a front elevation, other arm 59 of the bellcrank lever has a hooked Figure 3 is a rear elevation, end 5! for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the The cut-oil swi switch mechanism of the machine, with the cured in the base plate 43 and carrying an answitch cover removed, gularly movable sleeve 52 having a control spring Figure 55 is. a rear elevation of the switch mech- 53. An insulated arm 54 is attached to the anism viewed in the direction of the arrow V sleeve 52 and is adapted to be engaged by the tch comprises a pillar 78 seof Figure 4, hooked end 5i of the bellcrank lever 48, 50. The Figure 6 is a side elevation of the switch mechsleeve 52 also has a radial arm 56 having a reanism viewed in the direction of the arrow VI of silient section 57 and provided at its end with Figure 5, a freely rotatable roller 58. The roller 58 is Figure 7 is a side elevation of the switch mechadapted to run on an inclined track or block 59 anism viewed in the direction of the arrow VII having a step 68 at one end but normally the of Figure 5, roller lies on a rest Bl attached to one end of a Figure 8 is a detail elevation of a cut-01f switch cut-oif switch lever 62 pivoted at 53 to a bracket forming part of the switch mechanism, 86 secured to the base plate it. The lever 62 Figure 9 is a detail plan view of a primary carries a platinum contact 55 adapted to engage switch forming part of the switch mechanism, a fixed platinum contact 6E5 secured to the base Figure 10 is a detail plan View of a timing plate 33. A spring 6? acts on the lever 62 so switch forming part of the switch mechanism, as to bring the contacts 55, 65 into engagement and I with one another but when the roller 58 is on Figures 11, 12 and 13 are diagrams of the its rest ti it biases the lever against the spring switch mechanism showing the sequence of moveii? and maintains the contacts 55, 65 out of enments which take place in carrying out a welding gagement with one another although the clearoperation. ence between them is very small. A screw 68' The general design of the machine is similar threaded into the base plate as has its head ento that of the machine described in the specifigaging a forked end 88 of the lever 62 to procation of my Patent No. 2,130,657. The machine vide for adjustment of the clearance between comprises a casing or frame 25: which houses an the contacts 65, 55. A stop it is provided for electrical transformer 2| for stepping-up the the arm 56. voltage of the electricity, supplied via the plug The timing switch comprises a pair of conconnector 22, to that required for carrying out tacts ll, 72 mounted on spring arms I3, M which a welding operation. The frame carries a lower tend to spring apart so as to open the switch. arm 25, the extremity of which supports a tur- The arms 13, i i are insulated from one another ret-like electrode holder 24. The frame also has and are secured to an insulated block 75 attached lugs 25 which support between them a rocking A member ES having an arm 2! which also sup- The timing arm it is pivot ports a turret-like electrode holder 28. The elecof the pillar it for angula trode holders 24 and 28 each carry four elecindependently of the sleeve 52. At its outer end trodes 3t" and by adjusting the holder angularly the timing arm is provided with a finger-anddiiferent electrodes can be brought opposite to thumb grip 19 and a projection 8t adapted, due one another and into a position for carrying out to the resiliency of the arm, to snap into any one a welding operation. A spring 3! acts on the of a series of vertical recesses or notches 8| in arm 26 to. urge it into a position so as to bring the track 59 so as to hold and locate the arm the electrodes together and this movement is 13 in any one of its several positions of adjustresisted by springs 32 located between a lug 33 ment. A cam 82 is secured to the sleeve 52 for on the frame 25 and a switch-operating block 34 movement the ewith and has a part 83' of its (see Figure l). The. switch-operating block is periphery adapted to engage the contact arm secured to guide rods 35 which have a sliding M, at 83, so as to close the timing switch confit in holes 36 in the lug 33 and pass freely tacts H, 72, anda cut-away part 86 which, when through the holes 37 in the member 26. The it is opposite the projection 83' of the contact forward ends of the guide rods have nuts 38 arm 7 3, permits the timing switch contacts ll, threaded on them which form abutments for 72 to open. By adjusting the timing arm 76 limiting forward movement of the rocking memthe projection 83' is moved nearer to or furthei ber 25. The sheath 39 Of a Bowden wire is anfrom the edge 85 of the cut-away part 8d of chored to the switch-operating block 34 whilst 0 the cam 82 so as to vary the time or" flow of the the wire 50 proper thereof is anchored to the welding current.

lug 33. The Bowden wire is operati'vely connect- The electrical connections of the machine and ed to a foot pedal 4i and the arrangement is of the various switches above described will be such that when the pedal is depressed the switchclearly understood from Figure 11 of the drawoperating block 3 is caused to move forwardly, ings.

compressing the springs 32 and permitting the A lamp 8" is provided on the machine and it spring St to move the member 26 and bring the also has a handle 81 to faci litate its transport electrodes towards one another. 1

from place to place.

The switch mechanism of the machine is The manner of operation of the machine; willhoused in a casing 42 mounted on the upper part now be described in detail with particular referof the machine. This switch mechanism comence to Figures 11, 12 and 13. prises a base plate 43 of insulating material on Prior to carrying out a welding operation the which is mounted a primary switch 43', a utparts of the machine are in the positions shown off switch M and a timing switch 45. The priin Figures 1 to 11 inclusive. To carry out a weldmary switch comprises a fixed contact in the ing operation the parts to be welded together are inserted between the electrodes to and the pedal ii; is depressed. This brings the electrodes onto the work piece and causes the switch-operating clock to move forward taking with it the bellcrank lever the hooked end of which engages the arm and causes angular movemerit of the sleeve This in turn results first in the closing oi the cut-off switch t l, due to the movement of the roller 58, and second in the opening of the timing switch 45, due to the rotation of the cam 22. Further movement of the block closes the primary switch it and then the hooked end 5i oi": the bellcrank lever 48, 5t snaps over the end of the arm a". and releases is so that the sleeve 52 flies back to its initial position, as shown in Figure 13 under the action of its spring 53. During this return movement or" the sleeve, the velocity of which depends on the spring current will now in the welding circuit. lhe welding circuit is opened by the cut-ofi switch M. It will be noted that on its return movement the roller 53 is steadied by the fact that it has to run up the inclined surface or the track as and at the end of the stroke the wheel slips over the step iii] of said track which gives a dead-beat operation of the cut-ofi switch. The period or time of flow of current depends on the length of time the welding circuit is closed by the timing switch before it is opened by the cut-ofi switch. In the particular case shown in Figures l1, l2 and 13 the welding circuit will be closed for a period equal to the length of time taken by the periphery 83 of the cam 82 to move through the angle A (see Figure 13) under the action of the spring 53. This angle can, of course, be varied to give different periods of current flow by angular adjustment of the timing switch contacts about the periphery of the cam B2 by means of the timing arm it as above described. The further the contacts are moved in the direction of the arrow XI (Figure 11) the longer will be the period of flow of current.

An index as is provided on the casing of the switch mechanism to facilitate the selection of a particular setting of the timing arm. A plug 59 is provided for the selection of alternative transformer tappings.

I claim:

-1. Switching mechanism of the type employed in connection with a welding machine of the kind specified and having a timing switch for the welding current comprising a spring-controlled cam shaft, an arm on said cam shaft, a pawl on a part of the machine-operating member which pawl moves forward with said part when the machine is operated and engages said arm and carries it and the cam shaft with it against the control spring thereof and subsequently releases said arm and permits return movement of the cam shaft under the action of its spring, a cam on said cam shaft, resilient contact means adapted to be closed by the cam on return movement of the cam shaft and means for adjusting the point of engagement of said resilient contact means with the cam so as to vary the length of time the cam closes said contact means.

2. Switching mechanism of the type employed in connection with a welding machine of the kind specified and having a switch mechanism comprising ,in series a cam-operated timing switch, a primary switch and a cut-off switch wherein the cut-off switch has a very limited space break and means for adjusting the effective stroke of the cam operating the timing switch so as to vary the length of time the welding current hows, the said cam having spring-operating means and the machine-operating member stressing said spring means and then releasing the cam for an operating stroke under the action of its spring, and means moving simultaneously with the cam during stressing of said spring, which means close the cut-ofi switch, then open the timing switch and finally close the primary switch.

3. An electric welding machine of the kind comprising a welding circuit including electrodes or terminals for connecting a work piece in the welding circuit, switch means controlling the flow of welding current and means for closing said switch means to effect a welding operation, wherein said switch means comprises a timing switch, a cam device, a trip catch having an operative connection to the switch closing means and adapted to engage said cam device and pro-set it relatively to the timing switch against the action of a reaction means and subsequently to release the said cam device, so that on the return movement thereof under the action of the reaction means the cam will close the timing switch and thereby the welding circuit for a predetermined time.

HAROLD GLADSTONE WATKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,955,438 Ragsdale Apr. 1'7, 1934 2,130,657 Watkin Sept. 20, 1938 2,141,561 Ryder Dec. 2'7, 1938 

